Middle school students learn hands-on at local businesses

LACONIA — Laconia Middle School students in family and consumer science classes have had a year packed full of hands-on learning, and the last few months are no exception.

Since May 5, the students have had 10 events, starting with sixth graders taking a walking field trip downtown to explore careers, visiting The Flip Side Restaurant, the Laconia Public Library and the Colonial Theatre.

The class is offered to students in sixth through eighth grade, led by Tiffany Dube, who said financial stability is of the utmost importance, even when young.

“Hopefully, when these students enter adult life, they will have the education to make some things easier, and won’t make financial mistakes, or have the understanding of saving for the long term,” Dube said.

Eighth graders completed their ServSafe certification June 1-5, in class, preparing for potential jobs in handling food, through a grant from the Laconia Endowment Education Foundation. They toured to T-BONES and Cactus Jack’s to see food safety in action, on June 8. While there, students learned about the ins and outs of the hospitality industry, speaking with kitchen staff and management about what the job entails.

Some students went into each restaurant, which are in the same building on Union Avenue on separate floors, to hear from professionals and ask questions.

“It’s a very good step toward the future,” said Brian Wentworth, the head kitchen manager. “This stuff wasn’t common when I was their age, so it is good to see a bigger focus on the future. They didn’t get around to this and push that until I was a junior in high school, so it’s exciting for them.”

Wentworth walked students through the kitchen, showing the supplies, and the day-to-day operations of his position. He answered questions, ending on the WinniDeck, where he discussed interviewing skills and ethics. He also talked about his own career trajectory, saying he started as a line cook and worked his way up. He said he was determined, and wanted to learn. One piece of advice was to choose a career path they enjoy.

“I’m sure not every one of them will pick this career, but if one does, it’s very cool that I’ll help them get there,” Wentworth said. “There’s nothing but good coming from this. They all seem very engaged, so, the future is good.”

Cactus Jack’s Managing Operator Heather LeBlanc met with students, going over income for servers, bartenders, and other staff. She discussed the job descriptions, and how to be presentable for work. LeBlanc said each staff member has their own integral role. She said they are looking for employees to be engaging, honest, happy, and willing to learn and succeed.

“We are all crucial to the team,” LeBlanc said. “At the end of the day, we’re one big team.”

Trenton Philibotte, an eighth grader, enjoyed taking the ServSafe certification, and seeing it in real time.

Mason Garcia-Waldron learned chefs and managers are hardworking, with long hours late into the night, and he said it must be a hard career.

“I feel like I might honestly work in the restaurant industry, be a chef maybe, start as a busser and work my way up,” he said.

Other student experiences include May 11, when Service Credit Union staff came to the school to present “Byte of Reality,” with a focus on financial literacy. Then on May 14, sixth graders took a trip to Fisher Cat Stadium, in Manchester, for a backstage tour during New Hampshire Hospitality Month.

Granite Edvance came to teach seventh and eighth graders about exploring careers based on interests and skills through a program called “You Science,” on May 18. Seventh graders took a field trip downtown to learn how to budget their money on May 21. They stopped at Bank of New Hampshire, Empire Beauty School, and the Salvation Army.

The STEM mobile came to the school on May 26, educating students about careers in science, technology, engineering and math. While it was there, students completed a hands-on lesson about pig hearts. Granite Edvance returned May 29, to work with students on results from “You Science.”

Seventh graders took a trip to Laconia High School’s wood shop to explore careers in construction on June 11. They learned about computer-assisted design and manufacturing programming, and students took home a wood block engraved with their name using the CAD machine, which they painted with help from a high school student.

The students worked with wood shop teacher Sean Walsh, and Dube said it was an amazing experience.

“He taught them all about the wood shop, careers, and pumping them up for trades,” Dube said. “It was so hands-on and engaging.”

Garcia-Waldron praised the class, saying it was useful to learn how to manage money. He also learned about careers, from being a chef to an electrician, which he said is also top of his list.

“The whole experience was definitely amazing for me, and I learned a lot more than I thought I would,” Garcia-Waldron said.

Hunter Cate enjoyed the field trip to T-BONES and Cactus Jack’s, saying he learned so much about the how the kitchen works, and the many jobs in a restaurant.

“What surprised me was how efficient they can work,” Cate said. “If you’re slacking in one spot, you’re slacking in all.”

Philibotte gave credit to the class for his money-saving skills, saying if he hadn't taken it, he wouldn’t know where to start.

Throughout the class, Cate learned about cooking nutritious meals, and simply put, how to make money. These are two crucial parts of life, and not something he takes lightly, even in eighth grade.

“How you survive in life is how you make money,” Cate said. “People say don’t do jobs for the money, but it is really the way you survive.”

Dube said many people think of the class as home economics class, but it is far more. Financial literacy involves how to save, budget money, credit scores, obtaining insurance, and managing expenditures in the life ahead of these students.

“It is a real look at why financial stability is important right now,” Dube said.

She teaches about nutrition, focusing on moderation and making home-cooked meals, and limiting processed foods. Dube teaches about reading labels and shopping on the perimeter of the grocery food, where healthier food tends to be. Students learned recipes and how to accurately measure ingredients, and Dube hopes these skills will transfer to home.

“They learn how to cook healthily,” Dube said.

They also learned about fire safety in the kitchen, which she stresses is “No. 1,” and an important life skill.

They learned about essential job skills like teamwork, collaboration and problem-solving. She stressed mistakes can be corrected, or there are times to start from scratch. Dube said the class has also brought students together to work, which has boosted some of the shy students’ confidence.

“Students work with new people every week,” Dube said. “It’s a great skill, and when they go into the workforce, they will probably need to work with new people.”

They also learned careers do not need to stem from a traditional four-year degree, and there are opportunities to pursue a trade or apprenticeship. They attended four expos at Lakes Region Community College, showing a path that could lead to a plethora of results.

Dube said the class gave the students an early taste of life skills needed for years to come. Some students are 14, and are ready to get a summer job.

“The class was a success, a huge success,” Dube said. “They’re excited to work, do something constructive, and learn how to save early.”